Magnetic connection.



F. SHORT.

MAGNETIC CONNECTION.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I5, m4.

1,168,037. Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

Witnes ses: Inventor:

F" ank Short UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK SHORT, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MAGNETIC CONNECTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

ing shafts or other rotary members. In

general, my invention not only permits the connection or application of speed indicators- (as devices such as above referred to-may' be generically termed) to shafts to be made quickly and easily, but also relieves the operator of any trouble or attention in supporting the device or maintaining its connection. How these and other advantages can best be obtained in accordance with the invention will appear from the detailed description hereinafter of the best embodiments at pres ent known to me, while its scope will be indicated in my claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 shows in axial section one form of my con necting device ready to be applied to a shaft, and also a. simple speed indicator ready to be .connected to the shaft by means of the de- Fig. 2 is a tilted View of an accessoryv v1ce. part. Fig. '3 is a mid-sectional view of a modified form of my connecting device.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a part adapted to be applied endwise to the shaft and comprising or constituting magnetic means for causing it to adhere to the shaft. With this magnetic part I combine or associate means for centering it with reference to the shaft. Ordinarily I prefer to make the magnetic part a permanent magnet of suitable strength rather than to produce the magnetic attraction electrically when the device is in use.

As shown in Fig. 1, the magnetic part is a cup-shaped piece 1 of permanently magnetic material such as steel, and the means for centering it with reference to the shaft is a center-punch piece 2 fitting more or less tightly in a bore in a central boss 3 in said part 1, but not so tightly as to prevent its shifting therein as hereinafter set forth.

This piece 2 may be of angular section or may be otherwise positively prevented from turning in the part 1 if it is thought undesirable to rely on mere friction. One end of the center punch 2 is conically 0r pyramidally pointed at at so as to engage properly in the counter sink or prick'punch mark 5 in the end of the shaft 6, while the other end has a sort of socket device 7 comprising a plurality of spring fingers for engaging the actuating member 8 of the speed indicator 9. The bottom of the socket device 7 may be conical, or it may be pyramidal so as to engage the pyramidal end of the actuating member 8 to the best advantage. When the part 1 is applied against the end of ashaft or the actuating member 8 of the speed indicator 9 placed in the socket device 7, the punch part 2 will yield lengthwise in either direction with reference to said part 1 as may be necessary. Under these conditions, rotation of the speed indicator 9 as a whole with its actuating member 8 may be prevented by means of the ordinary weight of the parts, or by a special weighting, or even by a wire or the like securing them to any convenient part or structure.

The part 1 is made cup-shaped in order that it may better retain its magnetism, just as magnets are ordinarily made horseshoeshaped; and as the centering piece 2 will preferably be made of steelor other ferrous metal so that it will be or become magnetized, the whole device is, indeed, in effect a sort of horse-shoe magnet of revolution. When the'device is applied to'a shaft smaller than the inside of the cup 1, the latter will go on the end of the shaft. Preferably a disk 10 of soft sheet iron (see Fig. 2) with a central hole for the part 2 will be provided to serve as a keeper when the device is not in use.

In Fig. 3 the edge of the cup-shaped magnetic part 21 is extended inward to make it retain its magnetism better still, and the centering part 22 is urged outward or forward in the central boss 23 by a coil spring 24 acting between a shoulder thereon and a part 25 screwed into the rear side of the part 21. The socket device 27 is a separate piece screwed fast in the part 25, so that it does not move with the part 22. The boss 23 extends forward flush with the edge of the cup-like part 21 to improve the magnetic properties of the part 21, and the centering part 22 need not be of ferrous or other magnetic material.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A device for connecting a speed indicator to a revolving shaft comprising a magnetic part adapted to be applied endwise and adhere to the shaft so as to rotate with it and engagement means for centering said part with reference to the shaft.

2. A device for connecting a speed indicator to a revolving shaft comprising a, permanently magnetized steel part adapted to he applied endwise and adhere. to the shaft so as to rotate with it and a center punch for centering; said part with reference to the shaft so associated therewith as to be movable lengthwise of the shaft with reference thereto.

3. A device for connecting a speed indicator to a revolving shaft comprising a permanently magnetized steel part adapted to be applied endwise and adhere to the shaft so as to rotate with it, a center punch for centering said part with reference to the shaft associated with said part, and means also associated with said part for engaging and holding the actuating member of the speed indicator.

4.. A device for connecting a speed indicator to a revolving shaft comprising a magnetic part adapted to be applied endwisc and adhere to a revolving shaft so as to rotate with it, engagement means for centering said part with reference to the shaft, and socket means for the actuating member of the speed indicator associated with said magnetic part.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of August, 191

FRANK SHORT.

\Vitnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, MARGARET E. VVooLLEY. 

